"Free" Dining

[twooley2]

Ah, now I get it.

No. Not this dining plan or any version of it. The 'dining plan' to which you refer was - at least the basic version of it - something to the effect of "for $50 per adult per night, the Guest got $55 of dining credits to use as desired". Higher plans cost more and so offered more features - I guess the 'play' to which you referred in an earlier post. Features like watercraft rental, probably dinner shows...

That's from memory only, I never viewed the link so my description may not be 100% accurate. That 'dining plan' was so much LESS popular and, therefore, less used than the current versions. While my representation may be a bit off, my timing isn't. I'm absolutely positive that was a different, less-used/popular plan... because THIS Dining Plan (the Basic/original DDP) was introduced January 1 or 2, 2005. The first Dining Plan Free Promotion was offered for about a six- or seven-week period encompassing early to mid August through the beginning of October - and at least that year, Guests could "stack" discounts, combining an AAA room discount with the Dining Plan Free discount!

Yes this is what I was referring to and they referred to the dollar amount based on the number of "wishes" purchased. I just recall purchasing 3 wishes per person per day to use any way we wanted either 3 meals a day and maximum use with all included or water craft rental and 2 meals or even a show at Cique de or any combination. I wonder why it was so less popular. Granted it was overkill for the first timer guest and we were in a restauraunt all the time it seemed. When I decided to do it the following time we visited it was all changed and things were so limiting. We even got starter pin lanyards for the kids. We never ate all the appetizers but it was nice to know the option was there.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes this is what I was referring to and they referred to the dollar amount based on the number of "wishes" purchased. I just recall purchasing 3 wishes per person per day to use any way we wanted either 3 meals a day and maximum use with all included or water craft rental and 2 meals or even a show at Cique de or any combination. I wonder why it was so less popular. Granted it was overkill for the first timer guest and we were in a restauraunt all the time it seemed. When I decided to do it the following time we visited it was all changed and things were so limiting. We even got starter pin lanyards for the kids. We never ate all the appetizers but it was nice to know the option was there.

Oh my gosh, I remember those "wishes' things. Way too confusing!

 

[twooley2]

Yes I can see why they were confusing for first timers but that is what kept us wanting to return from what was to be a once in a lifetime trip and do it unconfused and get the most value out of our options. They caught on to us... LOL

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Am I the only one that really wishes they would do away with the free dining plan option? I really miss the good old days where I could walk up to certain restaurants and, with a short wat, be seated. Not much channce now. And even going to counter service is such a challenge. There's so many people needing to be briefed on the plan, how it works, what they have remaining, etc! I'm nice, not ugly or rude to anyone, but yikes! Personally, I can't imagine going to Disney, which I do often, and planning my trip around eating!

No disrespect! But, are you crazy?!! Free Dining is the best thing Disney has come up with in years. It saves it's consumers hundreds, if not thousands off their vacation and also helps their bottom line. I don't see Free Dining ending anytime soon.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Sometimes you just wish people wouldnt give in to the deals and maybe force them to bring back the old times but I guess that as you are saying is basically water under the bridge.

With the free dining discount, we can take our family of 6 to Disney World cheaper now than we did in 2004.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I agree with that as it seems people these days must make the most economical decison offered and makes sense especially since we really have no way of bringing back the old days What can I say I'm a dreamer. One day you all will look back and see what I am saying when it is not as good as it is today and new people will be thinking how great of a deal they are getting too. So Enjoy it The memories will be great and fun times will be had either way

I really don't know what you keep referencinng "in bringing back the old days." We've been going to Disney for years, pre and post dining plan and free dining and we had great meal experiences then and still do. Of course some places are better than others but I can't say I've ever had a bad meal at WDW.

 

[mickey778]

First thing to understand is that it is not free and the price is hidden in the package as you can probably get everyting cheaper if you did not buy a package direct through Disney and bought them seperatly. You are paying rack rate for the hotel/resort and tickets to get that free dining along with visiting during what used to be a low attendance time. Although free dining has upped their numbers in attendance. along with the prices of the resort and tickets increasing yearly to make up for the free.

This is not totally true. We have gone many times and have all the prices we have paid for everything. We have done free DP, free park passes, and discounted rooms, free GC and regular packages.

Last year it was cheaper to upgrade to a moderate with free dining than paying for value with dining and tix at a value.

We use all the dining and it saves us $ since we would use it anyway.

Plus we have been going 1-2 times a year since I was a child and I always remember needing reservations and not being able to get seated if you did not have one. I vividly remember waiting to get a kiosk at EPCOT so my mom can make reservations for Alfredo's in Italy that day and we did not always get them.

 

[ratlenhum]

I don't think it would matter if they did away with free dining. When we went on our honeymoon we didn't know about ADRs and got shut out of just about every TS place we tried to get into. We've done free dining twice now, and if we ever go without it, we will still be making ADRs at our favorite places. I think people just know to make ADRs in advance now.

 

[twooley2]

I really don't know what you keep referencinng "in bringing back the old days." We've been going to Disney for years, pre and post dining plan and free dining and we had great meal experiences then and still do. Of course some places are better than others but I can't say I've ever had a bad meal at WDW.

What one person likes another may not that makes us all individuals

 

[StacyMarie]

I have to wonder if FD really effects the ability to walk up and get a table without an ADR. I am guessing there is still a need for an ADR at most places most of the time, FD or not. People need to eat and as much as a lot of people eat at QS places, there are just as many that are going to want a sit down meal weather they are paying for it or not.

 

[twooley2]

I have to wonder if FD really effects the ability to walk up and get a table without an ADR. I am guessing there is still a need for an ADR at most places most of the time, FD or not. People need to eat and as much as a lot of people eat at QS places, there are just as many that are going to want a sit down meal weather they are paying for it or not.

It may or may not I have had experience getting reservations at last minute and other times have not been able to. Having 12 in a party may have some implications to it though. As we had 12 people one time and were still able to get the Hoop dee Doo dinner on the next night

 

[asmit4]

No disrespect! But, are you crazy?!! Free Dining is the best thing Disney has come up with in years. It saves it's consumers hundreds, if not thousands off their vacation and also helps their bottom line. I don't see Free Dining ending anytime soon.

 

[msmith07101]

First thing to understand is that it is not free and the price is hidden in the package as you can probably get everyting cheaper if you did not buy a package direct through Disney and bought them seperatly. You are paying rack rate for the hotel/resort and tickets to get that free dining along with visiting during what used to be a low attendance time. Although free dining has upped their numbers in attendance. along with the prices of the resort and tickets increasing yearly to make up for the free.

While it may not be "free", I did price out everything for my upcoming trip in December using both the "free" dining and the discounted room rate for the value resorts. As well as pricing everything separately through Expedia. I chose to book the free dining pkg through Disney because for 4 days, it was $100.00 more than the other ways I priced it out...for 2 people. Would I spend $100.00 out of pocket for food in 4 days for 2 people?? Heck yeah...and then some! So for me, while it may not be free, it's pretty darn close. It's the quick service plan, which is fine by me. Last year I did a table service every day, and while it was nice, I don't want to spend time sitting in restaurants this trip and don't want to plan all that out in advance. Will I like using the plan? We'll see...never used it before.

 

[divawife]

Going Feb 11 through Feb 18-5 people including 2 kids age 10 & 11 so they get adult meal plan. We will be at the Pop.
Priced out all of the discounts: % off of rooms, free dining and gift card. The cheapest is the free dining even with: upgrading to DDP from QS for all 5 and 2 preferred rooms.
I save almost $1,600 with free dining. Yes, I did price out a moderate so the DDP would be included it was not cheaper (and we don't care for the moderates but would have stayed in one if it was worth it money wise).

 

[ratlenhum]

Free dining is the reason some people can actually afford to go to WDW and the reason that some people think they can afford to go.

 

[canopynut66]

nope. I would keep free dining.

We are going in January. Our value rooms are costing us like $79-$89 per night. We are eligible for Free QSDP.

I don't think there's any pin code out there that would save me as much money as FREE dining would. The FREE dining would cost me more than our room bill.

I think I got a pretty good deal. 10 nights on Disney property, 10 day park hopper passes, dining plan, and airfare on Southwest (no baggage fee's) for $3200--for the 4 of us (2 adults, 1 junior, and 1 child.) I think that's a pretty cheap vacation.

And we will snack and eat pretty good too!
Amy

Agree with you as three of us adults are going and staying 10 nites at POP and we upgraded to MYWD and with our air fare round trip is total of $2300.00 that a cheap vacation with dining. We have AP but we did have to buy two day base tickets to get the free dining and was still cheaper than using AP discount and buying our own dining. We can use the base tickets to trade on our next years AP.

Free dining has nothing to do with restaurants being full as that been the case for years in World Showcase area or any TS. This our 57th trip and we have always had ressies. Now we used to do them thru out the park as they had kiosk set up but was still very hard to get what dining place you wanted. There are just way more people at WDW along with all the new resorts they have built.

We do not park hop as to us wastes to much time and when I book dining it is either in the Park were in for the day or close by or in a resort on the monorails etc.. we never feel we are planing or trip around food

 

[canopynut66]

Free dining is the reason some people can actually afford to go to WDW and the reason that some people think they can afford to go.

This so true inboth things you said...

 

[Nadjalu]

I think this debate is hilarious.

First off, FD didn't hurt dining at WDW....the economy did. Food prices soared so what do restaurants do (all restaurants not just disneys)....they cut here and there to help their bottom line.

Why people think FD did it, is because of the timing.
FD came into affect to lure people to WDW....because they needed to fill their rooms due to the economy and people not vacationing.
At the same time the restaurants were having to cut back to save money.

It all makes perfect sense. FD is free for some, it doesn't affect the quality, and I for one am glad I get to save money in the end. PERIOD.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not like what has been done to the restaurants either. I've done the dining plan in the past and will not do it anymore, even if it's "free." It's too restrictive for me. However, the dining plan is here to stay. Free dining, the most effective means Disney has come up with of filling resorts and restaurants in traditionally slow times, is here to stay, and is expanding.

 

[DaParkers]

Why people think FD did it, is because of the timing.
FD came into affect to lure people to WDW....because they needed to fill their rooms due to the economy and people not vacationing.

The attendance numbers below are from 2004, and show that attendance was up before the dining plan came into effect in 2005. Disney is always looking to increase revenue regardless of their previous years earnings. WDW has a history of trying new things as evident in their ticket history. The times that free dining was initially offered was a historically slow time time for WDW. It didn't start with the economic downturn. I will say that I believe the economy has forced them to continue offering it despite saying that discounts would go away.

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 15.2 million, up 8%.
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., 13.4 million, up 5%.
Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 9.4 million, up 9%.
Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 8.3 million, up 5%.
Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 7.8 million, up 7%.